Plate with retaining structure

ABSTRACT

A vessel may comprise a bottom surface and a retaining structure disposed on the bottom surface and extending outward from the bottom surface. The retaining structure may comprise a lip spaced apart from the bottom surface and extending inward with respect to an outside of the vessel. The retaining structure may be configured to removably couple to a second object disposed at least partially between the lip and the bottom surface.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/074,757, filed Nov. 4, 2014, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Plates for serving food are generally thin and relatively flat and often include an upturned outer rim. When holding food, plates are often set on tables or other flat surfaces, but there are many situations in which diners carry plates that are covered in food. At many informal gatherings such as picnics or parties, diners often eat entire meals while standing and holding their plates. Plates of food are often awkward to hold and carry in these situations, requiring at least one hand (and sometimes two) to balance the plate at all times to avoid spilling food. This means a person holding a plate of food may find it difficult to also hold a beverage while holding the plate, and/or to or use a utensil, or other item while holding the plate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an underside of a plate according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an underside of a plate coupled to a cup according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an underside of a plate coupled to a cup according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF SEVERAL EMBODIMENTS

Plates or other food serving vessels described herein may include a retaining structure for coupling a cup or other object to the plate. A user may attach a cup to a plate and securely hold both the cup and the plate with the same hand.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an underside of a plate 100 according to an embodiment of the invention. A circular plate 100 is shown in FIG. 1, although other plate shapes (e.g., square, rectangular, oval, etc.) may be possible. The plate 100 may be made of any material. For example, the plate 100 may be a reusable plate made of ceramics, plastic, glass, metal, stone, wood, etc., or the plate 100 may be a disposable plate made of paper, cardboard, plastic, Styrofoam, etc.

The bottom surface 110 of the plate 100 may include a retaining structure 200. The retaining structure 200 may be formed integrally with the bottom surface 110 of the plate 100, or the retaining structure 200 may be a separate element attached to the bottom surface 110 with adhesive, fasteners, or a combination thereof. The retaining structure 200 may have a roughly L-shaped cross section forming a lip 210 spaced apart from the bottom surface 110 of the plate. The lip may extend in an inward direction with respect to an edge of the plate 100, for example in a direction substantially parallel to the bottom surface 110. The retaining structure 200 may have an open end 220 and a curved portion 230, which may be disposed opposite the open end 220 and may be sized and shaped to accept a lip 310 of a cup 300. In some embodiments, the portion opposite the open end 220 may not be curved, and may instead be flat or may comprise one or more angles, or be of some other shape to accept a lip of a cup that is not round, but that is instead square or some other geometric or non-geometric configuration. Forming the retaining structure 200 in an atypical configuration and/or size may be advantageous in that it will require a correspondingly shaped and sized cup for mating with the retaining structure. This may be desirable to help ensure that the plate 100 is not used with an improperly sized cup obtained from a different source. Alternatively, the retaining structure 200 may be sized and shaped to mate with common, commercially available cups (e.g., the well-known 16 oz. colored plastic SOLO™ brand disposable cups). The lip 210 may have one or more tabs 240 near the open end 220 extending in an inward direction with respect to the rest of the lip 210. Edges 250 of the lip 210 may be open to allow the lip 310 of the cup 300 to slide between the lip 210 and bottom surface 110 of the plate. In some embodiments, the edges 250 may flare away from the bottom surface 110 to allow the cup 300 to engage the retaining structure 200 at an angle that is not parallel to the bottom surface 110. The retaining structure may extend greater than 180 degrees in circumference from edge 250 to edge 250, which may serve to retain the cup 300 in the retaining structure 200.

The bottom surface 110 of the plate 100 may also include one or more nubs 120. The nubs 120 may be formed integrally with the bottom surface 110 of the plate 100, or nubs 120 may be separate elements attached to the bottom surface 110 with adhesive, fasteners, or a combination thereof. The nubs 120 may allow the plate 100 to rest evenly on a flat surface such as a table. Therefore, the nubs 120 may extend the same distance out from the bottom surface 110 as the retaining structure 200 extends, or the nubs 120 may extend farther from the bottom surface 110 than the retaining structure 200 extends. If the nubs 120 and retaining structure 200 extend the same distance out from the bottom surface 110, the plate 100 may rest on both the nubs 120 and retaining structure 200 when it is placed on a surface. If the nubs 120 extend farther out from the bottom surface 110 than the retaining structure 200, the plate 100 may rest on the nubs 120 only when it is placed on a surface. In some embodiments, the nubs 120 may be replaced with a ring (not shown), which may extend the same distance out from the bottom surface 110 as the retaining structure 200 or farther from the bottom surface 110 than the retaining structure 200 to serve the same purpose as the nubs 120.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are a perspective views of an underside of a plate 100 coupled to a cup 300 according to an embodiment of the invention. The cup 300 may be slid through the open end 220 of the retaining structure 200 into engagement with the lip 210 of the retaining structure 200. The cup 300 may deform to allow it to pass by the tabs 240 of the retaining structure 200 in some cases (e.g., when the cup 300 is a flexible cup such as a disposable plastic cup). To disengage the cup 300 and retaining structure 200, the cup 300 may be slid through the open end 220 in reverse. The tabs 240 and lip 210 may fit under the lip 310 of the cup 300 when the cup 300 is attached to the retaining structure. The tabs 240, by extending inward from the rest of the lip 210, may act as a detent to prevent the cup 300 and plate 100 from separating at the open end 220 of the retaining structure 200 when the cup 300 and/or plate 100 are tilted. In embodiments wherein the cup 300 deforms when pushed past the tabs 240, the tabs 240 will extend beyond the cup 300 when the cup 300 re-expands inside the retaining structure 200 as it clears the tabs 240. When coupled to the retaining structure 200, the cup 300 may be used as a handle for the plate 100. The cup 300 may be engaged and disengaged with the retaining structure 200 while containing liquids (e.g., beverages, etc.) or solids (e.g., snacks, ice, etc.). The close position of the top of the cup 300 to the bottom surface 110 may discourage spilling from the cup 300 when the cup 300 and plate 100 are moved, even if a tight seal between the cup 300 and the bottom surface 110 is not provided. In some embodiments, such as that shown in FIG. 3, the plate 100 and cup 300 may be packaged together, possibly in a pre-mated condition, and/or the retaining structure 200 and cup 300 may be formed in configurations and/or sizes that correspond to one another so that only certain cups 300 may be coupled to the plate 100, as noted above.

While various embodiments have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example and not limitation. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s) that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope. In fact, after reading the above description, it will be apparent to one skilled in the relevant art(s) how to implement alternative embodiments. For example, while plates 100 are described herein, it will be appreciated that similar retaining structures 200 may be used in similar fashion for bowls, trays, and/or other vessels or tableware. Also, similar retaining structures 200 may not be limited to food serving vessels, but may also be applied to any containers or portable objects. For example, plate 100 may be a paint roller tray, and cup 300 may be a paint container.

In addition, it should be understood that any figures which highlight the functionality and advantages are presented for example purposes only. The disclosed methodology and system are each sufficiently flexible and configurable such that they may be utilized in ways other than that shown.

Although the term “at least one” may often be used in the specification, claims and drawings, the terms “a”, “an”, “the”, “said”, etc. also signify “at least one” or “the at least one” in the specification, claims and drawings.

Finally, it is the applicant's intent that only claims that include the express language “means for” or “step for” be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f). Claims that do not expressly include the phrase “means for” or “step for” are not to be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f). 

What is claimed is:
 1. A vessel comprising: a bottom surface; and a retaining structure disposed on the bottom surface and extending outward from the bottom surface, the retaining structure comprising a lip spaced apart from the bottom surface and extending inward with respect to an outside of the vessel, the retaining structure configured to removably couple to a second object disposed at least partially between the lip and the bottom surface.
 2. The vessel of claim 1, wherein the vessel is a plate, a bowl, or a tray.
 3. The vessel of claim 1, wherein the second object is a cup.
 4. The vessel of claim 1, further comprising one or more nubs extending at least as far outward from the bottom surface as the retaining structure.
 5. The vessel of claim 1, wherein the lip comprises at least one tab extending inward with respect to an outside of the food serving vessel from the rest of the lip.
 6. The vessel of claim 1, wherein the retaining structure comprises an open portion configured to accept the second object.
 7. The vessel of claim 6, wherein the retaining structure comprises a curved portion opposite the open portion configured to engage with the second object.
 8. The vessel of claim 6, wherein the lip comprises at least one tab extending inward with respect to an outside of the vessel from the rest of the lip, the at least one tab being disposed at the open portion.
 9. The vessel of claim 6, wherein the lip flares further outward from the bottom surface at the open portion.
 10. The vessel of claim 6, wherein: the retaining structure comprises two edges each disposed at the open portion; and the retaining structure extends greater than 180 degrees in circumference from edge to edge.
 11. The vessel of claim 1, further comprising the second object.
 12. The vessel of claim 1, wherein the second object comprises a lip configured to fit between the lip of the retaining structure and the bottom surface.
 13. A food service device comprising: a vessel configured for the placement of food thereon, the vessel including a bottom surface; and a retaining structure disposed on the bottom surface and extending outward from the bottom surface, the retaining structure comprising a lip spaced apart from the bottom surface and extending inward with respect to an outside of the vessel; and a container sized and shaped to mate at least partially with the retaining structure, wherein the container is removably coupled between the lip and the bottom surface of the vessel. 